Stacked-Plate Cooler

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a stacked-disc cooler for a motor vehicle comprising several discs ( 21 - 24 ) stacked on each other and connected together, in particular welded to each other, and a supply channel which passes through several discs and through which a cooling medium is introducible into the staked-disc cooler ( 1 ) and distributed on the individual discs. According to said invention, in order to obtain the improved staked-disc cooler ( 1 ), a valve device preventing the return of the cooling medium outside of the supplying channel ( 18 ) is mounted therein.

The invention relates to a stacked-plate cooler for motor vehicles, having a plurality of plates which are stacked one on top of the other and are connected, in particular soldered, to one another, and having a supply duct which runs through a plurality of plates and through which the medium to be cooled is supplied to the stacked-plate cooler and is distributed to individual plates.

The oil supply duct of a conventional stacked-plate oil cooler is supplied with oil for example by means of an oil pump. In order to avoid impurities in the stacked-plate oil cooler, it can be expedient to filter the oil in an oil filter before it passes into the oil supply duct of the stacked-plate oil cooler. The German utility model DE 202 15 258 U1 discloses an oil module for an internal combustion engine, in which are provided means for preventing a return flow of oil in the direction of the oil pump when the internal combustion engine is at standstill, and means for preventing a return flow of oil in the direction of the filling port after being filled with the first oil filling.

It is an object of the invention to create a stacked-plate cooler for motor vehicles, having a plurality of plates which are stacked one on top of the other and are connected, in particular soldered, to one another, and having a supply duct which runs through a plurality of plates and through which the medium to be cooled is supplied to the stacked-plate cooler and is distributed to individual plates, which can be produced cost-effectively, has greater functionality than conventional stacked-plate coolers and is of compact design.

The object is achieved in the case of a stacked-plate cooler for motor vehicles, having a plurality of plates which are stacked one on top of the other and are connected, in particular soldered, to one another, and having a supply duct which runs through a plurality of plates and through which the medium to be cooled is supplied to the stacked-plate cooler and is distributed to individual plates, in that a valve device is installed in the supply duct, which valve device prevents a return flow of the medium to be cooled out of the supply duct, for example when the pump of the engine is at standstill. According to the present invention, the valve device is integrated into the stacked-plate cooler. In this way, the existing installation space in the stacked-plate cooler is utilized for an additional function. No additional installation space is therefore required as a result of the integration of the valve device.

One preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the valve device is formed by a non-return valve device which comprises a valve body which is held in contact against a valve seat by a valve spring device. The non-return valve device permits a throughflow of oil through the oil supply duct in only one direction and closes in the event of a flow reversal if for example the oil pump stops delivering oil.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the oil supply duct is delimited by a cover panel against which the valve spring device is supported. According to the present invention, a conventional cover panel, which is also referred to as a cover plate, is utilized as an abutment for the valve spring device. It is thereby possible for the valve spring device to be integrated into the oil supply duct without carrying out structural modifications to a conventional stacked-plate oil cooler.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the valve spring device comprises a pre-stressed coil pressure spring which is held in the oil supply duct. The length of the coil pressure spring in the pre-loaded state corresponds approximately to the length of the oil supply duct.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the valve body comprises a substantially circular-plate-shaped closing body whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the oil supply duct. This ensures that oil can flow past the closing body when the latter is arranged in the oil supply duct.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the closing body has, on the end side facing away from the valve spring device, an annular groove into which an O-ring is inserted. The O-ring serves as a sealing medium. It is also possible to provide a suitable sealing material directly on or at the closing body.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that a plurality of connecting webs proceed from that end side of the closing body which faces toward the valve spring device, which connecting webs connect the closing body to a guide ring. The connecting webs and the guide ring form a type of guide cage which serves to guide the closing body such that it can move back and forth in the oil supply duct. In addition, the guide cage serves to hold an end of the valve spring device.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that the stacked plates are arranged between the cover panel and a base panel which has, as a continuation of the oil supply duct, a passage hole whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the valve body and than the outer diameter of the valve spring device. The installation of the valve device through the cover panel is thereby facilitated in a simple way.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that a closure ring is arranged in the passage hole in the base panel, on which closure ring is provided the valve seat for the valve body. The closure ring is inserted into the passage hole after the installation of the valve spring device and of the valve body. The closure ring is preferably pressed into the base panel.

A further preferred exemplary embodiment of the stacked-plate oil cooler is characterized in that a sealing face or sealing edge is formed on the closure ring. In the closed state of the valve device, the valve body bears against the sealing face or sealing edge.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention can be gathered from the following description, in which an exemplary embodiment is described in detail with reference to the drawing. Here, the features mentioned in the claims and in the description can be essential to the invention in each case individually or in any desired combination. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a stacked-plate oil cooler according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the stacked-plate oil cooler from FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows the view of a section along the line III-III in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded illustration of the valve device according to the invention;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view of a valve body which belongs to the valve device;

FIG. 6 shows the view of a section along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5, and

FIG. 7 is an exploded illustration of the stacked-plate oil cooler according to the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a plan view of a stacked-plate oil cooler 1 according to the invention. The stacked-plate oil cooler 1 comprises a base panel 4 which delimits the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 on one side. The base panel 4 is in the shape of a rectangle, in the corners of which is cut out in each case one passage hole 6, 7, 8, 9. The passage holes 6 to 9 serve for fastening the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 to a motor vehicle (not illustrated).

At the side opposite from the base panel 4, the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 is delimited by a cover panel 12. Provided in the cover panel 12 are two depressions 14, 15 which are in substantially the shape of sphere sections. Also shown in the cover panel are an oil supply duct 18 and an oil outflow duct 19 which are not actually visible in the plan view but are covered by the cover panel 12. The oil supply duct 18 serves for supplying oil to the stacked-plate oil cooler 1, which oil is cooled in the stacked plates of the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 with the aid of coolant or air. The oil outflow duct 19 serves for leading the oil which is cooled in the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 away again. According to the present invention, a valve device 20 is arranged in the oil supply duct 18.

In the side view illustrated in FIG. 2, it can be seen that a plurality of stacked plates 21, 22, 23, 24 are arranged between the base panel 4 and the cover panel 12, which is also referred to as a cover plate. The stacked plates 21 to 24 are in the shape of trough-shaped plates which are stacked one above the other and whose edges overlap one another and are soldered to one another. In this way, hollow chambers are formed between in each case two adjacent stacked plates, which hollow chambers are alternately traversed by media which are involved in the exchange of heat. The medium to be cooled is preferably oil. It is however also possible for other media to be cooled in the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 according to the invention. Water with known additives is preferably used as coolant. It is however also possible for air to be used for cooling the oil instead of liquid coolant.

FIG. 3 illustrates the view of a section III-III in FIG. 1. It can be seen in the section view that a passage hole 31 is provided in the base panel 4, which passage hole 31 permits the outlet of coolant from a coolant outflow duct 32. The coolant is supplied via a coolant supply duct which is arranged below the depression 15 (see FIG. 1).

It can also be seen in FIG. 3 that a passage hole 36 whose diameter corresponds to the diameter of the oil supply duct 18 is provided in the base panel 4. A closure ring 38 is pressed into the passage hole 36, which closure ring 38 has a rectangular cross section. Formed on the closure ring 38 is a sealing face 39 for an O-ring 40. The O-ring 40 is attached to a valve body 42 which is pressed by a coil pressure spring 44 against the closure ring 38. The coil pressure spring 44 is braced between the valve body 42 and the cover panel 12.

The closure ring 38, the O-ring 40, the valve body 42 and the coil pressure spring 44 form a non-return valve device which prevents a return flow of oil out of the oil supply duct 18. The valve body 42 is pressed by the coil pressure spring 44 against the closure ring 38 in such a way that the O-ring 40 bears against the sealing face 39 in a sealing manner. If the pressure on the valve body 42 exceeds the preload force of the coil pressure spring 44, then the valve body 42 opens, so that oil passes past the valve body and into the oil supply duct 18. Once the pressure decreases, for example because a pump which is used for delivering oil is switched off, then the preload force of the coil pressure spring 44 ensures that the valve body 42 closes again.

FIG. 4 is an exploded illustration of the coil pressure spring 44, the valve body 42 and O-ring 40 alone. In FIG. 4, it can be seen that the valve body 42 has a closing body 45 which is in substantially the shape of a circular plate 46. Four connecting webs 51 to 54 proceed radially outward from the closing body 45. The connecting webs 51 to 54 connect a guide ring 56, which has substantially the same diameter as the circular plate 46, to the closing body 45. The guide ring 56 and the connecting webs 51 to 54 form a type of guide cage for the valve body 42 in the oil supply duct 18. In addition, the guide cage serves to hold that end of the coil pressure spring 44 which faces toward the base panel 4.

FIG. 5 illustrates a plan view of the valve body 42. Indicated in the plan view is the position of a section VI-VI which is illustrated in FIG. 6. It can be seen in the section view of FIG. 6 that an annular groove 58 is formed in the closing body 45 on that side which faces away from the guide ring 56, which annular groove 58 serves for holding the O-ring 40 (see FIG. 4).

FIG. 7 shows an exploded illustration of the stacked-plate oil cooler 1 according to the invention. It can be seen in this illustration that the base panel 4 has a passage hole 60 which serves for supplying coolant. The closure ring 38, the O-ring 40, the valve body 42 and the coil pressure spring 44 form a non-return valve device which is installed in the oil supply duct (18 in FIG. 3). During installation, firstly the coil pressure spring 44 together with the valve body 42 and the O-ring 40 which is attached thereto is inserted into the oil supply duct. The closure ring 38 is then pressed into the passage hole 36 of the base panel 4. The non-return valve device prevents an undesired return flow of oil when the oil pump is at standstill. The valve body 42 can be embodied as a plastic injection-molded part or as a metal part such as for example a sheet metal part or turned part.

FIGS. 1 to 7 describe exemplary embodiments of a stacked-plate cooler as a stacked-plate oil cooler. The invention can however also be used for stacked-plate coolers in which a different medium to be cooled is used. The exemplary description of the invention on the basis of an oil cooler does not, however, constitute a restriction to said application. 

1. A stacked-plate cooler for motor vehicles, having a plurality of plates which are stacked one on top of the other and are connected, in particular soldered, to one another, and having a supply duct which runs through a plurality of plates and through which the medium to be cooled is supplied to the stacked-plate cooler and is distributed to individual plates, wherein a valve device is installed in the supply duct, which valve device prevents a return flow of the medium to be cooled out of the supply duct.
 2. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve device is formed by a non-return valve device which comprises a valve body which is held in contact against a valve seat by a valve spring device.
 3. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the supply duct is delimited by a cover panel against which the valve spring device is supported.
 4. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the valve spring device comprises a pre-stressed coil pressure spring which is held in the supply duct.
 5. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve body comprises a closing body, with the outer contour of the closing body in a plane perpendicular to the movement direction of the closing body substantially corresponding to the free cross section of the supply duct, with it being possible for the closing body to he held by the supply duct.
 6. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 2, wherein the valve body comprises a substantially circular-plate-shaped closing body whose outer diameter is smaller than the inner diameter of the supply duct.
 7. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 5, wherein the closing body has, on the end side facing away from the valve spring device, an annular groove into which an O-ring is inserted.
 8. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plurality of connecting webs proceed from that end side of the closing body which faces toward the valve spring device, which connecting webs connect the closing body to a guide ring.
 9. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 3, wherein the stacked plates are arranged between the cover panel and a base panel which has, as a continuation of the supply duct, a passage hole whose inner diameter is larger than the outer diameter of the valve body and than the outer diameter of the valve spring device.
 10. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 9, wherein a closure ring is arranged in the passage hole in the base panel, on which closure ring is provided the valve seat for the valve body.
 11. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 10, wherein a sealing face or sealing edge is formed on the closure ring.
 12. The stacked-plate cooler as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cooler is an oil cooler, the medium to be cooled is oil, and the supply duct is an oil supply duct. 